Major inferno claims 44 on Diwali eve in Sonepat
Fate's cruel hand snuffed out the lives of 44 persons at a busy marketplace crowded with Diwali shoppers here, after a devastating fire raged through the area on Saturday. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the mishap.

Cyclone -- Receding waters reveal grotesque realities
Receding water under the scorching sun and the opening up of a passage into the interiors of Orissa's cyclone battered coastal areas, have brought into the frame a picture more grotesque than initially conjured.

Poverty takes sparkle out of J&K migrants' Diwali
A dark diwali is staring in the face of about 70,000 border migrants put up at various makeshift arrangements in the city and its outskirts, after Pakistan's shelling forced them to abandon their homes five months ago.

  Quicktakes
  CVC bans post-tender deals
  Trouble-free Papal visit proves a diplomatic boost for Govt
  NRI couple seeks racist killers of son
  UK launches bid to end child labour
  Pope prays for peace as piety takes centrestage
  Pope's visit sparks debate over religion, minorities
  Air Force offers to take up carcass disposal task
  Sadhu killed in rift over puja
  New book explodes myth on terrorism in Punjab
  State Government staffers to get bonus after Diwali
  Great Indian Bustard thrives in Kutch sanctuary
  Pune hostel wardens strip three girls for alleged theft
  Orissa schools, colleges to remain closed indefinitely
  Sons kill parents for property in Delhi
  `Privileged to be blessed...' -- Pope touches hearts at Vatican Embassy
  Taxis must clean up or clear out
  Saat Rasta chawl's tribute to the past
  No money, will spend -- BMC splurges Rs 1 cr on ward panels
  Jobless youth kidnaps, kills `troublesome' boy
  Why the Pope must stop by at Kashmir
  `It was incredible driving the Pope'
  Increased Sino activity along border -- Army
  For them astrology is no hocus-pocus
  No steps taken to treat bio-medical waste yet
  Tripura militant outfits banned
  Tearful homage to slain jawan
  Statescape
  At a glance
  Hamas threatens to attack Israel again
  Dhaka strike -- Clashes break out, one dead
  LTTE takes control offour more key towns
  Rough weather stalls Egyptair search efforts
  Chandrika considers putting off polls as army grapples with revolt
  US may pull out of ABM treaty
  US resolution on Taiwan angers China
  More flee Chechnya as bombing continues
  Pak FIA chief had kidnapped, tortured many, reveals report
  Osama bin Laden's fighters train in Britain
  Clinton may add India, Pak in his drug `majors' list
  Vietnam flood toll heads towards 500
  Mumbai beat
  State set for e-governance
  Vadodara has a real blast!
  Mayor backs SGU in fight with govt
  Blasts fail to rouse State govt
  It all seems to add up at MSU
  Vadodara drums up two more coaches of material
  Ex-MP seeks Pandya's help
  GIPCL's SLPP commissioned
  Crime Watch -- Surat
  Migrants take the route home
  AIR tribute to Faiyaz Khan
  Rajkot financier killed
  Vadodara gearing up for big `bloom'
  Councillor injured in Vadodara city
  Fresh lease of life for Cambay project
  Record collection by AMC dept
  Crime Watch -- Vadodara
  How a prisoner gave cops the slip
  Loyalists set off fireworks in Cong
  Four injured as dacoits strike at remote hamlet
  FTII courses with revised syllabus ready for action
  A record of growth and triumph over disasters
  PCNTDA issues notice to plot holders to comply
  One killed in mishap
  In Brief -- Chandigarh
  KCB beefs up security measures
  Two killed in mishap